Viking Values

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Transcript of Viking Values

BeowulfViking ValuesGroups from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) invade Britian2000 B.C. Celts (from different parts of Europe) invade Britian600 B.C.Christian influenceRuled Britain for around 400 years55 B.C. Anglo-Saxons from modern Germany infiltrate Britain.Old-English language Greatest influence on EnglandAngle-land = England410 A.D. 793 A.D. Vikings from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark begin invasionsBeowulf takes place in Denmark and SwedenGeats are from SwedenDanes are from DenmarkTribal cultureEach tribe had its own kingWalled farms & wood-hut villagesBronze & iron toolsGrew cropsWarred with each other oftenUnstable and violent lifeBeowulfOld EnglishBeowulf = Bee Wolf = BearThe oldest surviving epic written in EnglishThe EpicAn epic is a long, narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a hero

ex: The OdysseyCharacteristics of the Epic - The HeroHigh social status Often great historical or legendary importanceActions determine the fate of the people Nation or civilizationCourageous, sometimes superhuman deeds are performed that reflect values of the eraThe hero and sometimes other characters deliver long, formal speechesBrief History of Great BritainBritain is made up of many different types of people. The island suffered a series of invasions for the first 1100 years of its recorded history. Each group of invaders left reminders of their presence

Other Epic CharacteristicsLarge scale settingOften involves a long and dangerous journey through more than one nationThe poem uses: Hyperbole - Exaggeration for effectFormal dictionSerious tonePoetic languageUniversal themesGood and evilLife and deathRoman Empire takes over BritainBeowulf is a blend of historical events and Nordic legendThe epic was traditionally told orally, but in the year 1000 A.D. a manuscript was written, which preserved the poem.

Beowulf is the oldest surviving work of Northern European Literature. The first page of the Beowulf manuscriptRescued from destruction several times, the manuscript is now housed in the British Library, LondonLegendMythA story based on actual historical events (e.g. King Arthur)Sometimes classified as a romanceTale that can involve noble heroes, love, daring deeds, and supernatural eventsA traditional story concerning supernatural beings or eventsExplanation of processes or phenomena (e.g. lunar eclipse)Both science and a religion for manyA form of literature and entertainmentLiterary DevicesAlliteration - repetition of sounds at the beginning of nearby words (ex: When I do count the clock that tells the time)Metaphor - an implied comparison between two unlike entities (ex: Time lies...)Kenning - metaphoric compound words in place of simple nouns (ex: sea = whale road, sun = candle of heaven)Allusion - an implied or indirect reference to a person, event, thing, or part of another text; often Biblical or mythologicalCaesura - a natural pause or break in the middle of a line of poetryThere is a fish that quivers in the poolitself a shadow but its shadow, clear. Kennings: Two Word MetaphorsSea = Whale roadSun = Heaven's candleSutton HooAn ancient burial groundMedieval scholars, in an attempt to preserve Anglo-Saxon poetry, painstakingly prepared and recopied manuscripts by hand. These scholars were usually monks in a monastery or in a nobleman's court. Scops Poet-SingersScops were traveling minstrels who entertained audiences with presentations of long narrative poems.Few people of the time could read or write.Anglo-Saxon literature was generally composed and passed down in the oral tradition.Scops recited poems in a chanting voice, often accompanied by a harp.These tales were a means of preserving tribal history and praising the deeds of heroes.Prologue to BeowulfHwæt! We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum,

A-Hrunting We Will GoAmong the Germanic tribes, high quality swords were greatly prized and handed down from father to son. These ancestral weapons were so important that they were often given names, like Unferth's sword Hrunting. Sword and scepter found at Sutton HooMeading-House or Mead-HallMead is a sweet, alcoholic beverage made from honeyThe name Herot (often spelled Heorot) is Old English for "hart" or "stag" (male deer), an animal often associated with royal authority.With This RingIn Germanic ceremonies in which a follower swore his allegiance to his lord or king in return for that lord or king's protection, the lord or king typically bestowed a golden ring on the follower to symbolize the bond. The king is sometimes referred to as their "ring-giver."Anglo-Saxon Ideals and ValuesCouragePhysical Strength/SwordsmanshipLove of gloryPride in one's accomplishmentsLoyaltyStoic acceptance of fateReverence of ancestryFairness, justice and honorResponsibility of leader/king for his peopleDesire to serve humanityWhat qualities of Beowulf makes the story endure and appeal to audiences through the centuries? Beowulf and GrendelBeowulf199920052007BeowulfThor, God of ThunderLegendary WarriorFun Fact:The Vikings told stories of a place called Midgard, or Middle Earth. A place inhabited by giants, elves, and dwarves. Sound familiar?